Russian River Tributaries Emergency Regulation Follow · PDF file ·...

Russian River Tributaries Emergency Regulation Follow Up Meeting

August 28, 2017State Water Resources Control Board

and California Department of Fish and Wildlife

Information Meeting

Logistics While Board members may be in attendance, no decisions will be made today

Sign‐in sheets and handouts are at back of room Please hold questions and comments until after the presentation

If you would like to speak during the discussion period please raise your hand and staff will come around with the microphone

Meeting Ground Rules Respect all speakers, all points of view are valid

You may not agree with a statement, but please allow the speaker the opportunity to be heard

All who wish to speak must use a microphone Speakers may ask one question or make one comment at a time so that everyone has the opportunity to speak First portion of meeting is focused on providing information

Second portion of meeting is focused on answering questions, discussion and comments

Please silence electronic devices

Agenda Update on Russian River Tributaries Emergency Regulation Information Order Results

California Department of Fish and Wildlife Update on Current Condition of Coho Salmon and Steelhead Fisheries

Overview of the California Water Action Plan Mark West Creek

Questions and Discussion

Update on Russian River Tributaries Emergency Regulation

Information Order Results

August 28, 2017State Water Resources Control Board Staff

Daniel Schultz

Statewide Drought: 2012 ‐ 2016California Percent Area in Drought

Local Drought: 2012 ‐ 2016California Percent Area in DroughtSonoma County Percent Area in Drought

Springtime Flow ‐ Mark West Creek near Mirabel Heights

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Discharge

(cfs) 2010

2014

2015

May 1 Jun 1 Jul 1 Aug 1 Sep 1 Oct 1

USGS 11466800

Emergency Regulation Timeline January 2014: Governor declares drought emergency July 2015: Russian River Tributaries Emergency Regulation went into effect

March 2016: Russian River Tributaries Emergency Regulation updated and readopted

December 2016: Russian River Tributaries Emergency Regulation expired

Russian River Tributaries Emergency Regulation

Applied to four Russian River tributary watersheds: Dutch Bill Creek Green Valley Creek Mark West Creek (portions of) Mill Creek

Two components (similar to other drought emergency regulations adopted by the State Water Board):1. Enhanced Water Conservation Measures (applied to critical

areas of watersheds only)‐ 20152. Informational Order (applied to entire area of four

watersheds)‐ 2015 and 2016

Information Order August 2015: Information Order (Order WR 2015‐0026‐DWR) issued

Asked landowners about their water use in 2014‐2015: Water Source

Type of source (well, surface diversion, etc.) Location of source (wells only)

Beneficial Use(s) to which the water was put Domestic, Agriculture, Stockwatering, etc.

How much water was used each month What parcel(s) the water was used on

Informational Order Timeline and Response Rates

Information Order Issued (12,325 Parcels/ Purveyors): Mailed August 26 thru September 18, 2015 Responses Due by October 23, 2015 Response Rate= ~50%

Information Order Reminder (5,938 Parcels/ Purveyors): Mailed October 28‐30, 2015 Total Response Rate= ~79% (December 13, 2015)

Administrative Civil Liability Complaint (1,881 Parcels/ Purveyors): Mailed December 15, 2015 via Certified Mail

20 days from receipt to respond Total Response Rate= 94%

ACL Summary December 2015: 1,881 Administrative Civil Liability (ACL) Complaints issued to landowners and water suppliers who failed to submit information in response to the Information Order

1,282 complete submittals 26 incomplete submittals 263 were not delivered, returned, or lost in the mail 169 ACL Complaints were withdrawn 140 Outstanding ACL Complaints

Informational Order Timeline and Response Rate (cont.) November 2016 (1,643 parcels): State Water Board staff sent letters to landowners requesting missing or incomplete water source and use information In the latter half of 2016 and early 2017, State Water Board staff has had contact with the owners of approximately 1,250 parcels, primarily related to the November 2016 mailings.

Information Order Response Rate

Responded (Complete)

89%

Responded (Incomplete)

6%

No Response5%

Green Valley Creek WatershedTotal Parcels = 5,675


89%


4%

No Response7%

Mark West Creek WatershedTotal Parcels = 4,909


80%


14%

No Response6%

Mill Creek WatershedTotal Parcels = 345


87%


2%

No Response11%

Dutch Bill Creek WatershedTotal Parcels = 1,395

(6% determined to be undeveloped land)




Dutch Bill Creek

Watershed

Green Valley Creek Watershed

Mark West Creek

Watershed

Mill Creek Watershed

Water Source Type by Parcel

No Water39%

Groundwater14%

Surface1%

Contract0%

Multiple Sources2%

Served by Water Supplier44%

Dutch Bill Creek WatershedTotal Reporting Parcels = 1,325

No Water10%

Groundwater62%

Surface1%

Contract0%

Multiple Sources2%


Green Valley Creek WatershedTotal Reporting Parcels = 5,439

No Water15%

Groundwater29%

Surface1%Contract

0%Multiple Sources

2%


Mark West Creek WatershedTotal Reporting Parcels = 4,644

No Water23%

Groundwater47%

Surface16%

Contract0%

Multiple Sources8%

Served by Water Supplier

6%

Mill Creek WatershedTotal Reporting Parcels = 329

Number of Reports by Beneficial Use

Domestic only75%

Domestic and Agriculture only

4%

Agriculture only*7%

Municipal only1%

Other only**1%

Mixed ***12%

Dutch Bill Creek Watershed

Domestic only83%


5%

Agriculture only*5%

Municipal only1%

Other only**1%

Mixed ***5%

Green Valley Creek Watershed

* Includes Agriculture, Frost Protection, and Heat Control** Excludes Domestic, Agriculture, and Municipal*** All other combinations

Domestic only71%


7%

Agriculture only*10%

Municipal only1%

Other only**3%

Mixed ***8%

Mark West Creek Watershed

Domestic only66%


9%


Municipal only0%

Other only**4%

Mixed ***9%

Mill Creek Watershed


2014 Reported Water Use by Beneficial Use

Domestic only54%


3%

Agriculture only*6%

Municipal only5%

Other only**0%

Mixed***32%

Dutch Bill Creek WatershedTotal Water Use in 2014 = 33,153,487 gallons (102 acre‐feet)

Domestic only53%


7%


Municipal only1%

Other only**5% Mixed***

15%

Green Valley Creek WatershedTotal Water Use in 2014 = 583,356,710 gallons (1,790 acre‐feet)

Domestic only10% Domestic and

Agriculture only7%


Municipal only42%

Other only**4%

Mixed***18%

Mark West Creek WatershedTotal Water Use in 2014 = 1,334,532,758 gallons (4,095 acre‐feet)

Domestic only14%

Domestic and

Agriculture only28%


Municipal only0%

Other only**6%

Mixed***24%

Mill Creek WatershedTotal Water Use in 2014 = 144,628,092 gallons (444 acre‐feet)

Reported Water Use by Month: Dutch Bill Creek Watershed

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

Million Gallons

Domestic only

Agriculture only*


Municipal only

Other only**

Mixed***2014

2015

Total use 2014 = 33,153,487 galTotal use 2015 = 37,255,655 gal


Reported Water Use by Month: Green Valley Creek Watershed


0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Million Gallons

Domestic only

Agriculture only*


Municipal only

Other only**

Mixed***

2015

2014

Total use 2014 = 583,356,710 gaTotal use 2015 = 582,922,087 ga

Reported Water Use by Month: Mark West Creek Watershed


0

50

100

150

200

250

Million Gallons

Domestic only

Agriculture only*


Municipal only

Other only**

Mixed***

20142015

Total use 2014 = 1,334,532,758 gTotal use 2015 = 1,338,582,570 g

Reported Water Use by Month: Mill Creek Watershed


0

5

10

15

20

25

Million Gallons

Domestic only

Agriculture only*


Municipal only

Other only**

Mixed***

2014

2015

Total use 2014 = 144,628,092 galTotal use 2015 = 104,029,657 gal


Seasonal 2014 Reported Water Use by Beneficial Use: Dutch Bill Creek Watershed

Domestic only62%


1%

Agriculture only*1%

Municipal only7%

Other only**0%

Mixed***29%

March ‐ May

Domestic only62%


4%


Municipal only5%


17%

June ‐ September


Seasonal 2014 Reported Water Use by Beneficial Use: Green Valley Creek Watershed

Domestic only52%


7%


Municipal only1%

Other only**5%

Mixed***17%

March ‐ May

Domestic only49%


8%


Municipal only1%


11%

June ‐ September


Seasonal 2014 Reported Water Use by Beneficial Use: Mark West Creek Watershed

Domestic only13%


8%


Municipal only35%

Other only**4%

Mixed***26%

March ‐ May

Domestic only8%


7%


Municipal only44%

Other only**3%

Mixed***18%

June ‐ September


Seasonal 2014 Reported Water Use by Beneficial Use: Mill Creek Watershed

Domestic only12%


32%


Municipal only0%

Other only**9%

Mixed***22%

March ‐ May

Domestic only20%


38%


Municipal only0%

Other only**4%

Mixed***12%

June ‐ September

Next Steps: Long‐term Actions to Address Instream Flows

Ongoing collaboration with CA Dept. Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) related to instream flow planning

California Water Action Plan Mark West Creek identified as one of five tributaries for enhanced stream flows statewide

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Requires formation of groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs), and development of groundwater sustainability plans (Santa Rosa Plain)

Post‐Drought Update 2017Status of the Russian River Fisheries and Effects of the

Drought

David HinesWater Rights Coordinator, CDFWHabitat Conservation, Region 3

Introduction

• Status of the Fishery• Salmon and Steelhead Life‐Cycles: the key to understanding their conservation• Species Comparison: coho salmon, Chinook salmon and steelhead• Coho Salmon Distribution in the Russian River• Coho Salmon Adult Abundance

• A measure of population size• Juvenile Distribution and Survival

• Population performance through the critically dry period

• Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements

Coho salmon

• Anadromous life history strategy– Confers survival advantages

• Reliant upon a wide range of aquatic environments– Increased exposure to anthropogenic threats

• Differences in strategies affects their risk of extinction

Life Cycle

• Coho salmon– State and Federally Endangered– Habitat Specialist

• The spotted owl of the salmon world• Adapted to stable, “old growth” conditions

– Narrow physiological tolerances– Relatively rigid life cycle– Cold, dark, deep pools– Deep body, large fins, big eyes

• Steelhead– Federally Threatened– Habitat generalist

• Adapted to wider range of habitat conditions– Utilizes riffles and other high‐velocity habitats

• Incredibly diverse life cycle• Fusiform body, small rounded fins, etc.

• Chinook salmon– Federally Threatened– Most invested in ocean habitats

• Emigrates shortly after emergence• Not subject to prolonged stream residence

Species Comparison

• Select tributaries in the lower basin– Low gradient streams– Reaches with perennial flow– Cool water throughout summer

• Emergency Drought Regulations targeted cohosalmon streams– Because coho were at greatest risk to effects of the drought

Coho Salmon Distribution

Adult Coho Salmon Returns

• Shows the estimated number of adults returning to Russian River tributaries to spawn over the last 15 years

• Represents overall survival from one generation to the next (3‐year life‐cycle)

• Reflects success of the hatchery release program– Extirpation (temporarily) avoided

• Lower returns in drought years– But, the effect of drought uncertain– Ocean survival may be unrelated to drought– Adults returning during the drought, may have

reared prior to drought

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Numbe

r of Fish

Return Winter

Adult Coho Salmon Returns to the Russian River

estimatedobserved

July 2015 August 2014 September 2013

Summer Streamflow During the Drought

Salmonid Survival through Summer

• Where surface water persisted, most fish survived*

• Where streams dried, fish died

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

Dutch BillCreek

Green ValleyCreek

Mill Creek Grape Creek Pena Creek

Prop

ortio

n

wetintermittentdry

Figure 3. The proportion of juvenile salmonids observed in relation to wet, intermittent and dry stream reaches in five priority streams studied by the Russian River Coho Salmon Captive Broodstock Monitoring Program in the summer of 2015.

Relative Performance of Key Tributaries

• Survival remains high despite cessation of flow• After approx. 30 days with little or no flow,

survival rates drop precipitously

• Low survival is associated with dissolved oxygen levels less than 5 mg/l

• Suggests survival drops when water quality degrades in isolated pools

Obedzinski and Nossaman 2010

Dissolved Oxygen and Survival in Intermittent Streams

• As long as water quality conditions remain favorable, juveniles can persist in isolated pools• But not for long• Pool persistence and water quality vary by site

• Water quality in isolated pools tends to crash after 30 days

• The best way to ensure that water quality is sustained is to maintain a hydraulic connection between pools

Juvenile Survival in Low Flow Conditions

Conclusions

• Natural reproduction in the four streams subject to Drought Regulation have not been sufficient to maintain the coho salmon population• This is also true of most tributaries in the Russian River• Hatchery efforts have avoided the extirpation of coho salmon in the Russian River• As one of the largest watersheds on the coast, the Russian River is a key basin for the survival and recovery of salmonids in the region

• The longer juvenile coho salmon spend in freshwater streams, the lower their survival to the smolt life‐stage• Although, fall release fish had the highest proportion of returning adults

• Survival through the summer was poor from 2013 through 2016• 2014 was exceptionally poor for multiple life stages

• Low streamflow in the summer months is a bottleneck to survival• Stream desiccation was associated with significant juvenile mortality

UCCE

Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements

• Fish and Game Code Section 1600 et. Seq. requires that people notify CDFW before substantially diverting or obstructing the natural flow of any river, stream or lake

• A diversion is considered “substantial” if:• Water is diverted when there is little or no surface water

• Stream flow is substantially reduced• Both new and ongoing water diversions are subject to notification

• Once notified, CDFW will develop an agreement with the diverter that will include measures to protect fish and wildlife

Lake and Streambed Alteration Agreements

• Developing LSAA’s for diversions is an important way we can protect endangered species from the harmful effects of stream flow depletion

• CDFW will continue to work with other agencies and stakeholders on effective and efficient approaches to protecting fisheries and aquatic resources

• If you have additional questions, please contact:• David Hines, Water Rights Coordinator at: [email protected]• Eric Larson, Environmental Program Manager at: [email protected]

End

August 24, 2017Drought Emergency Regulation Informational

Order Follow-up MeetingPresented by: Valerie Zimmer

Santa Rosa, CA

46

Outline Overview of California Water Action Plan (CWAP)

Current CWAP efforts in the Russian River Watershed

How Emergency Regulation Informational Order data will aid Russian River CWAP effort

47

California Water Action Plan (2014)

Collaborative effort between State Water Board and CDFW

Implement a suite of individual and coordinated administrative

efforts to enhance flows

Target at least five stream systems that support critical habitat for

anadromous fish

Consider public trust and maintaining fish in good condition

Transparent public process

48

Action 4 – Protect and Restore Important EcosystemsSub‐action: Enhance Water Flows in Stream Systems Statewide

Selection of 5 Priority Watersheds Threatened or endangered anadromous fish species

Highly altered habitat and flow conditions

High recovery potential

Represent watersheds throughout California

Opportunities to reach sustainable solutions for

multiple beneficial uses

49

Why Mark West Creek?

Critical anadromous fish habitat in Russian River largest run of Central California Coast (CCC) steelhead 17% of CCC Coho habitat (most of any watershed) California Coastal (CC) Chinook are also present

Mark West creek is one of ten Priority Action Coho Team (PACT)

streams identified above SF Bay in which flow enhancement are

needed.

Substantial positive local efforts to improve fisheries by public

agencies, agricultural partners, research institutions, landowners, and

environmental organizations

51

Current CWAP‐related activitiesRussian River Watershed

USGS Groundwater‐Surface Water Modeling, co‐sponsored by

Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA)

Ongoing analysis of Informational Order data to better

understand water use demand and water diversion and pumping

patterns in space and time.

Analysis of stream gage data in tributaries to verify modeling results.

Coordination with state and federal agencies (CDFW, NMFS, USGS)

Communication with local agencies, landowners, environmental

groups, and agricultural producers.

52

USGS modeling Santa Rosa Plain Model

1976‐2010

Undergoing Updates:

Drought years streamflow

Info Order Water Use data

Russian River Model

New model

Sponsored by State Water

Board, SCWA, and

partners in Mendocino

County

53

CWAP Estimated Timeline for Mark West Creek

CDFW study plan [end of 2017/early 2018]

CDFW field work [2018]

CDFW technical report [2019]

USGS Modeling completed [end of 2019/early 2020]

CDFW Flow Recommendations [end of 2019/early 2020]

State Water Board policy development and CEQA [2020 ‐> 2021]

54

Contact InformationProgram web page:

http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/instream_flows/cwap_enhancing

Email Subscription: https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/resources/email_subscriptions/swrcb_subscribe.shtml

‐ Click Water Rights ‐ Select California Water Action Plan/Statewide Instream Flows

55

Russian River Watershed Lead StaffValerie Zimmer(916) 319‐[email protected]

Instream Flow Unit SupervisorDaniel Worth(916) 341‐[email protected]

CWAP Email List Subscription

56

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